1,000 e-scooters confiscated in Derbyshire since start of 'seize first' crackdown
The Derbyshire force rolled out its 'seize first' policy in 2024, after a spate of crashes involving e-scooters which resulted in serious injury.
Police across Derbyshire have now seized more than 1,000 e-scooters, since the start of a tough new approach to the non-road legal vehicles.
The Derbyshire force rolled out its 'seize first' policy in 2024, after a spate of crashes involving e-scooters which resulted in serious injury.
Currently, privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.
In one case police seized an e-scooter capable of reaching 50mph being ridden by a 12 year old.
Inspector Lee Welsby, of Derbyshire's Roads Policing team said: “Seizing more than 1,000 e-scooters demonstrates the scale of the issue, and the work our officers are doing to tackle it.
“Our priority is keeping people safe, as an e-scooter at low speeds could still cause serious injuries for a pedestrian or the rider in the event of a collision. However, some of the examples we’ve seen have been shocking – a child falling off an e-scooter travelling at 40mph doesn’t bear thinking about.
“As Christmas approaches, please ensure that you understand the rules before buying an e-scooter and save yourself the time, money and stress of having one seized.”